RADIO and TV presenter Andy Goldstein was at the centre of a fresh backlash after saying that the Old Firm derby is "only big up in Scotland".
The Talkshow radio host who caused controversy with his comments about Scottish football last week, also suggested that Alloa and Cowdenbeath were in the top flight with Rangers and Celtic.
The host of the Sports Bar programme was returning to the show after last week coming under fire and was described as "clueless" after saying Rangers are not a massive club and that there is no other team but Celtic in Scotland.
Journalist Darren Lewis, his guest on the show, at one point refused to contribute as the two argued for over an hour over the merits of Scottish football and how the debate was being conducted.
Goldstein continued to discuss the game north of the border in his latest show after admitting that he had been inundated with messages complaining about his attitude to Scottish football since last week.
But the former Soccer AM presenter's fresh view about Scottish football and that the Old Firm derby is "only big in Scotland" created a fresh wave of criticism..
Lee Campbell told him on social media: "Your knowledge of Scottish football and the Old Firm is a disgrace. I thought Talksport was a national show."
Martin Paterson added: "You are a clown. Typical arrogant English p***k with no idea about Scottish football. No wonder the Scottish can't stand the English - especially when it comes to football. #Clueless."
Goldstein's view emerged in another discussion about the relative pressures on clubs in England and Scotland when a Rangers fan questioned Goldstein's attitude to Scottish football.
He said that Jason Cundy, Goldstein's guest "at least tries to show a bit of respect for Scottish football, but yourself Andy..."
He added: "There's a huge pressure in Glasgow. Have you been to an Old Firm derby.
Goldstein said: "No."
The fan went on: "Well there's your answer. You don't really know it then."
Goldstein retorted: "That question is so irrelevant. I haven't been to the 1970 World Cup but I know it was an amazing final."
After the fan suggested that he and Cundy go to an Old Firm match, Goldstein said: "It's only big up in Scotland. Is it sold around the world, that game. Like the El Classico.
"Are you telling me there are people in Spain who sit down and watch the Old Firm derby.
"I haven't said there isn't pressure, I say there is more pressure to get into the promised land in England [the English Premier League] than there is for Steven Gerrard [the Rangers manager] to finish top three in the SPL."
After his comments caused a stir on social media, Goldstein later explained: "Can I say I am not saying for one second that the Old Firm clash is not a big game. It's a massive game in Scotland, without a shadow of a doubt. It's the biggest game up there."
Earlier he came in for flak when he was asked what would happen to Steven Gerrard if he finished sixth with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
Andy Goldstein on the Old Firm Derby. Source: Talksport
He said: "He won't though... behind Cowdenbeath and Alloa? By the way, I don't even know if they are in..."
The famous derby has been recognised as one of the game’s top clashes by World Soccer magazine.
It came second only to the fiery battle contested between AC Milan and Inter in a list of world football's top rivalries.
The Old Firm clash was listed above River Plate v Boca Juniors who play in the Superclasico in Argentina, Portugal’s Benfica v Porto, Roma v Lazio, Ajax v Feyenoord, Liverpool and Manchester United and even the El Clasico between Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Some say that the Rangers vs Celtic clash does not carry quite the same weight globally as 17 years ago when the Ibrox club had top international players such as Norwegian international Tore Andre Flo, Dutch star Ronald de Boer and Italian defender Lorenzo Amoruso in their starting line-up and Celtic had Hoops legend Henrik Larsson and England striker Chris Sutton in their ranks.
Then it was estimated that more than 100 million people in more than 40 countries would tune in for an Old Firm clash.
More than 200 million would watch the Celtic and Rangers match when live and screened highlights are taken into consideration, and that number would increase again by the availability of highlights on the Scottish Premier League website five minutes after the final whistle.
The huge number of potential viewers came through agreement between the SPL and broadcasters around the world.
But three years ago the Old Firm semi final was expected to generate one of the largest TV audiences for Scottish football when it is beamed to 54 countries worldwide and was expected to reach 129 million homes around the world.
Many of the 129m were in the US, with Fox USA broadcasting it live. Rogers Sportsnet were to provide the same service in Canada.
Setanta Sports beamed live coverage in Australia and BeIN Sports was broadcasting in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
BeIN Sports were also making the game widely available across the Middle East and Africa.
But some say there has been a ratings drop.
When Celtic dismantled Rangers 5-1 in September, 321,000 watched it on Sky Sports but on March 1, the TV ratings shot up.
In a dramatic derby, which Brendan Rodgers' side won, despite being down to 10 men more than half a million watched across two channels - Sky Sports Football and Main Event.
It was, however, the third-most watched programme on Sky Sports Football with Gilette Soccer Saturday and an English Championship clash between Nottingham Forest and Derby securing more viewers.
Andy Goldstein versus journalist Darren Lewis. Source: Talksport
Goldstein is no stranger to controversy.
Ten years ago Chelsea fans laid flowers at Stamford Bridge after Goldstein joked ex-Blues defender Jason Cundy had "passed away" after he could not make the Sports Bar show.
And fans flooded the club with condolences.
Cundy, 39, who survived cancer in 1997, said: "It was a silly joke by Andy that backfired."
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